RYAN GAULD last night vowed to handle the hype and live up to his £47million billing at Sporting Lisbon.

And the backdrop to his first picture in a Sporting Lisbon shirt was photos of Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo.

For most 18-year-old kids from a tiny Scottish village it wouldn’t just faze them, it would scare the living daylights out of them. But Gauld is different.

Despite his baby-faced features, the ex-Dundee United teenager is mature beyond his years.

Even yesterday, as he emerged from the arrivals door at Edinburgh Airport to a sea of flash bulbs and microphones, he took it all in his stride.

Gauld had just completed a dream £2.2million transfer to Sporting that will make him the club’s highest-paid youngster in their history. He’ll pocket around £8000 a week and has a £47m buy-out clause in his contract.

Gauld knows there’s pressure on him. The likes of Ronaldo and Figo took a similar route to stardom via Sporting’s renowned academy.

But Gauld said: “I don’t want to think about trying to follow in the footsteps of Ronaldo or Figo. I’m just looking forward to playing for Sporting and making a good show of myself at the club.

“I know I’ll need to get my head down and work as hard as I can. I also know I’ve got a lot in my game I need to improve on. But hopefully with hard work I can do that and see where it takes me.

“It was a bit daunting to have the picture with Ronaldo and Figo behind me. They are two very good players but I’m just concentrating on myself.

“It’s been a little overwhelming in the past few days but it’s done. I’m just going to get on with it now.

“It will be hard to leave home and learn a new language in Portugal. But it’s something I’m looking forward to. It’s going to be a good challenge for me.”

Daily Record/Callum Moffat

Ryan Gauld says his goodbyes at Dundee United yesterday

Gauld’s has gone from the Angus town of Laurencekirk to Lisbon in the space of two years, after making his Dundee United debut at just 16 in 2012.

From the Scottish Premiership, he now has his sights set on the Primeira Liga and, potentially the Champions League with Marco Silva’s side next season.

And he revealed playing abroad has been a lifetime ambition – and promised to prove he’s worth the money Sporting have invested in him.

Gauld said: “It’s been a crazy few days but I’m glad it’s all sorted now.

“I know Sporting are a great club and brilliant at developing young players. It was an option I couldn’t turn down. They have paid a big price for me but hopefully I can put in big performances, establish myself in the team and do well.

“When I first heard of their interest from Jackie McNamara, I was kind of overwhelmed by it. But the club have been great, they haven’t stood in my way.

“Thankfully they let me speak to Sporting and helped the deal go through. I’ll always be grateful for that.

“It was so important to me to go abroad. It’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was very young and hopefully it will live up to what I’m expecting. The coaches in Lisbon are just looking forward to me getting out there for training.

“They’ve given me a six-year deal and that shows they’re not expecting too much too soon. It’s probably a long-term investment for them.

“The buy-out clause is a bit unbelievable right now but hopefully in a few years’ time I can live up to that price tag.

“Everyone knows how big a club Sporting Lisbon are. They’re a huge club in Europe and they’re very good at bringing on young players. That played a big part in me signing.

“I’ve tried not to think about the Champions League. I’m just taking it step by step – I’m looking forward to training next week.

“I’ve gone from Laurencekirk to Lisbon and there’s certainly a big difference between the two. But I’m moving to a great city and I’m looking forward to getting out there.”

Gauld shakes hands on his deal with Sporting

At a time when a clutch of Scottish youngsters have chosen England as their next career destination, Gauld has bucked the trend by venturing into Europe.

He hopes more of our talented kids – at Dundee United and elsewhere – will follow his lead and experience a different way of life to the UK in the future.

And as he bid farewell to his former team-mates and coaches at St Andrews yesterday afternoon, the Scotland Under-21 starlet thanked the staff and supporters at his old club for nurturing him – and giving him the chance to express himself in the first-team.

Gauld said: “The United fans have been absolutely superb with me ever since I played my first game two years ago.

“They supported me even when I wasn’t playing well.

“I’d also like to thank the coaches at the club because they’re the ones who have developed me as a player. The gaffer has given me a chance to show what I can do and I’m grateful to him for that.

“I’d love to think a few other Scottish players will take my lead, go and learn about football abroad and get used to a different lifestyle and culture to the one they’re used to in Scotland.”